Healing Faith

This weekend is a special one in San Pedro. At Angeles Gate Cultural Center there is the 19th annual Many Winter's Gathering of Elders. This is a gathering of tribal leadership from around the nation right here in San Pedro. 

From the Angels Gate website: "The vision of the Gathering is to host a sacred space for people to come together, with the intention to listen, learn from and support Indigenous communities, and to inspire a healthier future for all people. Elders from local tribes including Gabrielino-Shoshone, Gabrieleno Tongva, Acjachemen, Fernandeño Tataviam, Chumash, and other California tribes have attended in the past and will join this October. Tribal Elders from other regions (Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota and others) are expected, as well as Elders from Canada and Mexico. The Gathering takes place under an arbor which serves as the traditional place of teaching and learning – where Elders pass on knowledge to the younger generation, and is part of intergenerational healing from historical trauma."

Here in Los Angeles County, the people indigenous to this land before Europeans go by several names. The tribe recognized by the state of California is called the Gabrieleno San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians, they gained this status in 1994. The tribe does not currently have federal status as a native American Tribe. Also known as the "Gabrieleno Tongva" this is the Historic Traditional Tribe within the County of Los Angeles. The Gabrieleno Tongva lived on this land from the mountains to the ocean to the Channel Islands, and resided here consistently for centuries before Europeans arrived. They developed an extensive trade network which included boats, and their vibrant food and material culture was based on an Indigenous worldview that positioned humans as one strand in a web of life. Over time, different communities came to speak distinct dialects of the Tongva language. There may have been five or more such languages spoken.

Looking forward to this weekend and Indigenous People's Day on Monday our Sunday worship will include scripture read from the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament and reflections from the weekend. 

The 2025 MWGOE Logo Art was created by artist Jamie Rocha (Gabrielino-Shoshone Nation). This year’s design features a turtle representing North America, or “Turtle Island,” as referred to by many Indigenous people. The turtle’s shell is adorned with various Gabrielino and California Native nations’ basket patterns, and is surrounded by white sage, a traditional medicine from the local Southern California region, representing healing. The artist’s full statement is available on the MWGOE Linktree.

In Faith,

Rev. Amanda

Sunday Rhythm:

3pm Work Together

4pm Worship Together

5pm Eat Together

Come as you are, stay as you are able

All Are Welcome